Polygraph

by Robert Lepage, Marie Brassard

"A stream of visually arresting and magical stage pictures that make most conventional theatrical imagery look half dead." (Independent)

Summer, Quebec City. Following the brutal murder of a young woman, police suspicion rests on one of her close friends, Francois, a student of political science. Meanwhile, a coroner conducts the gruelling autopsy. Based on an uncanny series of interwoven true stories, Polygraph is a play part metaphysical thriller, part murder mystery and part love story, played out in a riveting series of overlapping and shifting perspectives.

Genres: Plays, Canada, Read For School, Theatre, Drama

64 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 1997

About the author

Né à Québec en 1957, Robert Lepage est devenu le 11e - et plus jeune - lauréat du très prestigieux Prix Europe pour le théâtre, l'équivalent du Nobel pour la littérature. Formé au Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Québec, il a été, à 29 ans à peine, directeur du Centre National des Arts du Canada. De son association avec le Théâtre Repère, en 1982, naissent Vinci, La trilogie des dragons, Le polygraphe, Les plaques tectoniques, Les aiguilles et l'opium. À la suite de la fondation d'Ex Machina, en 1994, la dimension technologique acquiert de plus en plus d'importance dans les spectacles créés : Les sept branches de la rivière Ota, Elseneur, La géométrie des miracles, La face cachée de la lune, Le projet Andersen. Ces spectacles sont régulièrement présentés en Amérique du Nord, en Europe, en Asie et en Océanie.

Reviews

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy balls! Now this play ... I've never seen it on stage, but I would give almost anything for the chance. Amazing work.

[Ella Sebok · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Cecily Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting play that based on the stage directions would be a lot more impactful if one was able to view the play. Based off the author's true account of being a suspect in a friend's murder. Definitely not my favorite play I studied in university but a decent one.

[BJ Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very visual. Very cinematic. Would be interesting to see. It's poetic artistry (in its visuals) leaves it open for interpretation. It was cool that it was bilingual (English/French).

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so much better than I thought it would be! It's very weird at first, but the story turned out to be so interesting!

[Kaeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at a second hand book shop and the premise was intriguing. As far as a typical play goes it is different in the way that it proceeds itself. Timelines overlap, loop around, almost in a circular fashion. It is definitely though provoking and uses quite a bit of French, although there are translations too !